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la Torre A, Lo Vecchio F, Greco A. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Aging and Aging-Associated Diseases. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081163. [PMID: 37190071 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable outcome of life, characterized by a progressive decline in tissue and organ function. At a molecular level, it is marked by the gradual alterations of biomolecules. Indeed, important changes are observed on the DNA, as well as at a protein level, that are influenced by both genetic and environmental parameters. These molecular changes directly contribute to the development or progression of several human pathologies, including cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative disorders and others aging-related diseases. Additionally, they increase the risk of mortality. Therefore, deciphering the hallmarks of aging represents a possibility for identifying potential druggable targets to attenuate the aging process, and then the age-related comorbidities. Given the link between aging, genetic, and epigenetic alterations, and given the reversible nature of epigenetic mechanisms, the precisely understanding of these factors may provide a potential therapeutic approach for age-related decline and disease. In this review, we center on epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and their aging-associated changes, highlighting their inferences in age-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria la Torre
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
| | - Filomena Lo Vecchio
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Greco
- Complex Unit of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
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Lozupone M, Imbimbo BP, Balducci C, Lo Vecchio F, Bisceglia P, Latino RR, Leone M, Dibello V, Solfrizzi V, Greco A, Daniele A, Watling M, Seripa D, Panza F. Does the imbalance in the apolipoprotein E isoforms underlie the pathophysiological process of sporadic Alzheimer's disease? Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:353-368. [PMID: 35900209 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Human apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a 299-amino acid secreted glycoprotein binding cholesterol and phospholipids, and with three common isoforms (APOE ε2, APOE ε3, and APOE ε4). The exact mechanism by which APOE gene variants increase/decrease Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk is not fully understood, but APOE isoforms differently affect brain homeostasis and neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, glial function, synaptogenesis, oral/gut microbiota, neural networks, amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition, and tau-mediated neurodegeneration. In this perspective, we propose a comprehensive interpretation of APOE-mediated effects within AD pathophysiology, describing some specific cellular, biochemical, and epigenetic mechanisms and updating the different APOE-targeting approaches being developed as potential AD therapies. Intracisternal adeno-associated viral-mediated delivery of APOE ε2 is being tested in AD APOE ε4/ε4 carriers, while APOE mimetics are being used in subjects with perioperative neurocognitive disorders. Other approaches including APOE ε4 antisense oligonucleotides, anti-APOE ε4 monoclonal antibodies, APOE ε4 structure correctors, and APOE-Aβ interaction inhibitors produced positive results in transgenic AD mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madia Lozupone
- Neurodegenerative Disease Unit, Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Balducci
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Filomena Lo Vecchio
- Research Laboratory, Complex Structure of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Paola Bisceglia
- Research Laboratory, Complex Structure of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Raffaela Rita Latino
- Complex Structure of Neurology, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Leone
- Complex Structure of Neurology, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Vittorio Dibello
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vincenzo Solfrizzi
- "Cesare Frugoni" Internal and Geriatric Medicine and Memory Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Greco
- Research Laboratory, Complex Structure of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Daniele
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.,Neurology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Mark Watling
- CNS & Pain Department, TranScrip Ltd, Reading, UK
| | - Davide Seripa
- Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, "Vito Fazzi" Hospital, Lecce, Italy
| | - Francesco Panza
- Unit of Research Methodology and Data Sciences for Population Health, National Institute of Gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis,", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
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Lo Vecchio F, Tabolacci E, Nobile V, Pomponi MG, Pietrobono R, Neri G, Amenta S, Candida E, Grippaudo C, Lo Cascio E, Vita A, Tiberio F, Arcovito A, Lattanzi W, Genuardi M, Chiurazzi P. Mother and Daughter Carrying of the Same Pathogenic Variant in FGFR2 with Discordant Phenotype. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071161. [PMID: 35885943 PMCID: PMC9319849 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Craniosynostosis are a heterogeneous group of genetic conditions characterized by the premature fusion of the skull bones. The most common forms of craniosynostosis are Crouzon, Apert and Pfeiffer syndromes. They differ from each other in various additional clinical manifestations, e.g., syndactyly is typical of Apert and rare in Pfeiffer syndrome. Their inheritance is autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance and one of the main genes responsible for these syndromes is FGFR2, mapped on chromosome 10, encoding fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. We report an FGFR2 gene variant in a mother and daughter who present with different clinical features of Crouzon syndrome. The daughter is more severely affected than her mother, as also verified by a careful study of the face and oral cavity. The c.1032G>A transition in exon 8, already reported as a synonymous p.Ala344 = variant in Crouzon patients, also activates a new donor splice site leading to the loss of 51 nucleotides and the in-frame removal of 17 amino acids. We observed lower FGFR2 transcriptional and translational levels in the daughter compared to the mother and healthy controls. A preliminary functional assay and a molecular modeling added further details to explain the discordant phenotype of the two patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filomena Lo Vecchio
- UOC Genetica Medica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (F.L.V.); (M.G.P.); (S.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Elisabetta Tabolacci
- Dipartimento Universitario Scienze Della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (E.T.); (V.N.); (R.P.); (G.N.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy;
| | - Veronica Nobile
- Dipartimento Universitario Scienze Della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (E.T.); (V.N.); (R.P.); (G.N.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy;
| | - Maria Grazia Pomponi
- UOC Genetica Medica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (F.L.V.); (M.G.P.); (S.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Roberta Pietrobono
- Dipartimento Universitario Scienze Della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (E.T.); (V.N.); (R.P.); (G.N.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Neri
- Dipartimento Universitario Scienze Della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (E.T.); (V.N.); (R.P.); (G.N.)
| | - Simona Amenta
- UOC Genetica Medica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (F.L.V.); (M.G.P.); (S.A.); (M.G.)
| | | | - Cristina Grippaudo
- Dipartimento Testa Collo, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy;
| | - Ettore Lo Cascio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (A.A.); (E.L.C.)
| | - Alessia Vita
- Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Biologia Applicata, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy; (A.V.); (F.T.)
| | - Federica Tiberio
- Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Biologia Applicata, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy; (A.V.); (F.T.)
| | - Alessandro Arcovito
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy;
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (A.A.); (E.L.C.)
| | - Wanda Lattanzi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy;
- Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Biologia Applicata, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy; (A.V.); (F.T.)
| | - Maurizio Genuardi
- UOC Genetica Medica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (F.L.V.); (M.G.P.); (S.A.); (M.G.)
- Dipartimento Universitario Scienze Della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (E.T.); (V.N.); (R.P.); (G.N.)
| | - Pietro Chiurazzi
- UOC Genetica Medica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (F.L.V.); (M.G.P.); (S.A.); (M.G.)
- Dipartimento Universitario Scienze Della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (E.T.); (V.N.); (R.P.); (G.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-3015-4606
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Bisceglia P, Lo Vecchio F, Latino RR, Gravina C, Urbano M, la Torre A, Desina G, Greco A, Leone M, Antonioni A. Italian Case Report with a Double Mutation in PSEN1 (K311R and E318G). Neurol Int 2022; 14:417-422. [PMID: 35645353 PMCID: PMC9149895 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint14020034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide. The clinical spectrum of suspected AD has been extended from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to preclinical AD which includes people who have typical cognitive function but harbor the underlying biological features of AD. We report the first case of an Italian patient affected by MCI (MMSE 24\30), characterized by a double mutation p.Lys311Arg (K311R) and p.Glu318Gly (E318G) in Presenilin-1 but with the absence of abnormal accumulation of amyloid beta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Bisceglia
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (P.B.); (F.L.V.); (C.G.); (M.U.); (A.l.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Filomena Lo Vecchio
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (P.B.); (F.L.V.); (C.G.); (M.U.); (A.l.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Raffaela Rita Latino
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (R.R.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Carolina Gravina
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (P.B.); (F.L.V.); (C.G.); (M.U.); (A.l.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Maria Urbano
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (P.B.); (F.L.V.); (C.G.); (M.U.); (A.l.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Annamaria la Torre
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (P.B.); (F.L.V.); (C.G.); (M.U.); (A.l.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Gaetano Desina
- Clinical Laboratory Analysis and Transfusional Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy;
| | - Antonio Greco
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (P.B.); (F.L.V.); (C.G.); (M.U.); (A.l.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Maurizio Leone
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (R.R.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Annibale Antonioni
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, S. Anna University Hospital, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-3407364839
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Vecchio FL, Bisceglia P, Imbimbo BP, Lozupone M, Latino RR, Resta E, Leone M, Solfrizzi V, Greco A, Daniele A, Watling M, Panza F, Seripa D. Are apolipoprotein E fragments a promising new therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease? Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2022; 13:20406223221081605. [PMID: 35321401 PMCID: PMC8935560 DOI: 10.1177/20406223221081605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a 299-amino acid secreted glycoprotein that binds cholesterol and phospholipids. ApoE exists as three common isoforms (ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4) and heterozygous carriers of the ε4 allele of the gene encoding ApoE (APOE) have a fourfold greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The enzymes thrombin, cathepsin D, α-chymotrypsin-like serine protease, and high-temperature requirement serine protease A1 are responsible for ApoE proteolytic processing resulting in bioactive C-terminal-truncated fragments that vary depending on ApoE isoforms, brain region, aging, and neural injury. The objectives of the present narrative review were to describe ApoE processing, discussing current hypotheses about the potential role of various ApoE fragments in AD pathophysiology, and reviewing the current development status of different anti-ApoE drugs. The exact mechanism by which APOE gene variants increase/decrease AD risk and the role of ApoE fragments in the deposition are not fully understood, but APOE is known to directly affect tau-mediated neurodegeneration. ApoE fragments co-localize with neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid β (Aβ) plaques, and may cause neurodegeneration. Among anti-ApoE approaches, a fascinating strategy may be to therapeutically overexpress ApoE2 in APOE ε4/ε4 carriers through vector administration or liposomal delivery systems. Another approach involves reducing ApoE4 expression by intracerebroventricular antisense oligonucleotides that significantly decreased Aβ pathology in transgenic mice. Differences in the proteolytic processing of distinct ApoE isoforms and the use of ApoE fragments as mimetic peptides in AD treatment are also under investigation. Treatment with peptides that mimic the structural and biological properties of native ApoE may reduce Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, and glial activation in mouse models of Aβ pathology. Alternative strategies involve the use of ApoE4 structure correctors, passive immunization to target a certain form of ApoE, conversion of the ApoE4 aminoacid sequence into that of ApoE3 or ApoE2, and inhibition of the ApoE-Aβ interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filomena Lo Vecchio
- Research Laboratory, Complex Structure of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia 71013, Italy
| | - Paola Bisceglia
- Research Laboratory, Complex Structure of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | | | - Madia Lozupone
- Neurodegenerative Disease Unit, Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Raffaela Rita Latino
- Complex Structure of Neurology, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Emanuela Resta
- Translational Medicine and Management of Health Systems, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Leone
- Complex Structure of Neurology, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Solfrizzi
- ‘Cesare Frugoni’ Internal and Geriatric Medicine and Memory Unit, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Greco
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy; Neurology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
- Research Laboratory, Complex Structure of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | | | - Mark Watling
- CNS & Pain Department, TranScrip Ltd, Reading, UK
| | - Francesco Panza
- Research Laboratory, Complex Structure of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
- Population Health Unit, Healthy Aging Phenotypes Research Unit, ‘Salus in Apulia Study’, National Institute of Gastroenterology ‘Saverio de Bellis’, Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy
| | - Davide Seripa
- Research Laboratory, Complex Structure of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
- Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, ‘Vito Fazzi’ Hospital, Lecce, Italy
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Antonioni A, Latino R, Vecchio FL, Greco A, Leone M, Bisceglia P. Italian case report with a double mutation in PSEN1 (K311R AND E318G). J Neurol Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.118998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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